EP1741494B1 - Process for making a hose, especially a shower hose, with several layers - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves manufacturing a hose from several layers (1, 3). A first layer is provided on an outside surface of an interior hose (1), which forms an internal particle layer of a shower hose. The particles adhere at the interior of the hose. An outside layer (3) is then laid. The surface of the interior hose is heated before laying the particles. On the surface of the interior hose and before laying on the particle, an adhesive such as a lacquer is laid. An independent claim is included for a device, and a hose.

Description

The invention relates to a method for producing a hose, in particular a multi-layer shower hose, a device for producing the hose and a hose.

From the publication with the publication number DE 195 11 216 C2 is known a shower hose, which has several layers. The one layer is formed by a so-called inner tube, while an outer layer is formed by a so-called outer tube. Between the inner tube and the outer tube a coloring is provided. The coloring is caused by a color powder, for example with metal pigments or particles. The particles are filled in an intermediate region between the inner tube and the outer tube.

To produce such a tube, the inner tube is pulled from above through a funnel in which the color pigments are arranged. Below the funnel an annular nozzle is arranged, which applies the outer tube. In this case, the annular nozzle is arranged to the funnel so that small amounts of the color pigments penetrate during the application of the outer tube in the space between the inner tube and the outer tube. The application of the color pigments to the surface of the inner tube and the extrusion of the outer tube takes place in a sense in one step.

Although a shower hose can be made quickly with the method described in the document, the result is not always satisfactory for aesthetic reasons. For example, the coloring of the shower hose is often very grainy, even if very small diameter color pigments are used.

However, often desired is a coloring which appears as fine-grained and uniform. With the manufacturing method described in the document and the device indicated therein for producing such a shower hose, a fine-grained and as uniform as possible smooth coloring can not be produced.

This is where the present invention begins.

The invention has for its object to provide a method, an apparatus for producing a hose and a hose in which the coloring is carried out by color pigments or particles, which are applied in powder form to the inner tube, the coloring should be as fine-grained and uniform smooth.

This object is achieved by the inventive method according to claim 1, by a device according to the invention according to claim 11 and by a hose according to claim 24.

The inventive method according to claim 1 differs from that of the document DE 195 11 216 C2 known manufacturing process essentially by the fact that the tube is manufactured in three steps. First, in a first step, particles are applied to an outer surface of an inner tube forming an inner layer of the tube. After the particles have been applied, in a second step, brushing, rolling, lapping or the like mechanically acts on the particles adhering to the inner tube. After the mechanical action on the particles, the outer layer is then applied only in a third step.

The inventive method is basically by the additional step in which by brushing, rolling, cloth or the like is mechanically acted on the particles adhering to the inner tube particles, consuming. The However, the result of this manufacturing process justifies this additional expense. The coloring of the shower hose is finer and smoother, even when comparatively large particles are used. By the method according to the invention it is possible, for example, to use larger particles than in the method as it is known from the document DE 195 11 216 C2 the case is. Since larger particles z. T. easier to handle and are cheaper to buy, the disadvantages are offset by the additional cost of the method according to the invention. Another advantage of larger particles is that the surfaces made with these larger particles shine more than the surfaces made with smaller particles. By the mechanical action on the adhering to the inner tube particles, it is even possible to reduce the amount of particles that is necessary for coloring the shower hose. The particle consumption for coloring the tube is therefore lower than by the method which is known from the publication DE 195 11 216 C2 is known.

The particles could be made of aluminum-coated foil.

The other aesthetic impression, namely the more uniform, smoother and finer-grained coloring of the shower hose is directly linked to the mechanical action on the particles adhering to the inner hose. The often used for coloring particles often have the form of microscopic platelets. If these particles are applied by the method disclosed in the cited document, these platelets are filled randomly between the inner tube and the outer tube. The tiles are aligned in all possible directions. In part, they are perpendicular to the surface of the Inner tube, in part, they lie parallel to the surface of the inner tube. In between, any angular position of the plates to the inner tube is possible. Due to the mechanical action on the particles adhering to the inner tube, these particles are aligned. The particles are then substantially parallel to the surface of the inner tube. This results in the overall more uniform, smoother and finer-grained impression of the shower hose produced by the production method according to the invention.

In a method according to the invention, the surface of the inner tube can be heated with a heater prior to the application of the particles. The surface can be heated to a typical for the material of the inner tube temperature at which the surface of the tube is viscous or plastically deformable. It is also possible that an adhesive or the like is applied to the surface of the inner tube before the application of the particles. With an adhesive, however, there may be the risk that it will clump after the application of the particles, in particular during the mechanical action.

Preferably, the inner tube for applying the particles is drawn through a bath with the particles. It is also possible that the particles are sprayed or inflated onto the surface of the inner tube.

After the particles have been applied, the mechanical action on the particles adhering to the inner tube takes place. The mechanical action can be done for example by a pressure medium, for example by compressed air. The inner tube with the particles adhering to it can from the pressure medium be streamed. Alternatively or additionally, the particles can be acted upon by brushes, rollers, cloths or the like.

Due to the mechanical action z. B. not directly on the inner tube adhering particles are partially removed. This makes it possible to reduce the consumption of the particles per unit length of the hose.

Basically, the hose can be acted on as often as desired mechanically. A mechanical action is always recommended in particular when the inner tube provided with the particles has made contact with another object, for example a deflection roller.

According to the invention, it is possible that after heating the surface of the inner tube and before or after the application of the particles, in particular before or after the mechanical action, depressions are pressed into the surface of the inner tube with one or more punches.

A device according to the invention for producing a hose, in particular a shower hose, with which preferably the aforementioned method can be carried out, comprises a container for a bath of particles, through which an inner hose can be pulled. The container has an inlet opening and an outlet opening from the then provided with the particle inner tube can exit. The container can rotate and / or be vibrated by a vibrator. The container may be a slanted cylinder which is traversed longitudinally by the inner tube. In addition, the device according to the invention has means for the mechanical action on the particles adhering to the inner tube. The means for the mechanical action on the adhering to the inner tube particles may include nozzles for a pressure medium, in particular compressed air, which are directed to the inner tube, so that the pressure medium can flow to the inner tube. The device according to the invention may alternatively or additionally comprise further means for mechanical action. These may include brushes, rollers, cloths or the like, for example. The means for mechanical action may be at least partially made of textiles, leather, foam, soft plastic materials, elastomers, bristles or the like. The mechanical action can z. B. be a polishing.

For example, it is possible for a mechanical action means to be a spiral brush through which the inner tube is pulled. Such a spiral brush can be set in rotation about its longitudinal axis by means of a drive, whereby the surface of the inner tube and thus of the particles adhering to the inner tube are acted upon tangentially as well as longitudinally while the inner tube is pulled through.

The nozzles can be arranged in a device according to the invention in the transport direction of the provided with the particles inner tube behind the rotating brush.

Preferably, the means for mechanical action are arranged in a housing. The housing may have an inlet opening and an outlet opening for the particle-coated tube. The inlet opening of the housing is preferably indirectly connected to the outlet opening of the container. The connection can be made for example by a cuff. In a wall of the housing, a filter may be used, via which a pressure compensation can be made, which is necessary because of the force acting on the inner tube pressure medium. Through the filter, the pressure medium can escape, while possibly entrained by the pressure medium particles adhere to the filter and can be supplied for further use. The filter is for this purpose preferably arranged above the container for the particle bath, so that the retained particles can fall into the container.

The device according to the invention may comprise a container which is funnel-shaped at least in one section. A tip of the funnel is preferably directed against the transport direction of the hose and at the top of the inlet opening of the container is provided for the hose.
A tube produced by the method according to the invention, but also another tube with an inner layer and an outer layer, can be designed in such a way that recesses are provided in an outer surface of the inner layer. These depressions may be impressions, which have been caused for example by one or more stamp. The recesses may preferably be arranged regularly and form a pattern. The depressions may in particular be circular, annular, drop-shaped, linear, arrow-shaped, cross-shaped, square, rectangular, symbol-like and / or formed as letters or numerals.

An inventive tube but also another tube may preferably be extruded so that it is a non-circular, z. B. a star-shaped, angular or oval, Cross section has. Such a tube may be provided, for example, as an inner tube or as a tube forming the inner layer of a multi-layered tube, wherein the outer layer may have a circular outer edge in cross-section.

Fig. 1

eine Frontansicht der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung mit abgenommener Frontwand,

Fig. 2

eine perspektivische Darstellung eines Hauptteils der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung,

Fig. 3

eine Rückansicht des Hauptteils gemäß Fig. 2,

Fig. 4

einen Schnitt durch den Hauptteil der Vorrichtung gemäß der Linie IV. in Fig. 3 und

Fig. 5

einen Schnitt durch einen erfindungsgemäßen Schlauch.

A device according to the invention for producing a hose according to the invention and a hose according to the invention are explained in more detail with reference to the drawing. Show it

Fig. 1

a front view of the device according to the invention with removed front wall,

Fig. 2

a perspective view of a main part of the device according to the invention,

Fig. 3

a rear view of the main part according to Fig. 2 .

Fig. 4

a section through the main part of the device according to the line IV. In Fig. 3 and

Fig. 5

a section through a hose according to the invention.

Inventive device according to the FIGS. 1 to 4 has an outer housing 11 with a housing bottom 11a. In this housing 11, the inner tube to be processed can be introduced via an inlet opening 11b. Via an outlet opening, not shown, the finished hose can then be led out of the housing.

On the outside of the housing and within the housing a plurality of guide rollers 12 a, 12 b, 12 c are arranged, via which the processing inner tube or the coated inner tube is performed.

In the transport direction to the inlet opening 11 b is then in the FIGS. 2 to 4 arranged main body of the device according to the invention shown. This main part has four to the housing bottom 11 a vertically arranged struts on which the remaining parts of the main part are substantially fixed.

In the inlet opening 11 b in the housing bottom 11 a, the tip of a funnel 4 is inserted with play. The hopper 14 itself is fixed to a plate 28a which has vibration-permissive elements attached to the housing bottom 11a. On the upper side of the plate 28 a, a vibrator 28 is arranged, which can set the plate 28 a and the funnel 14 in vibration.

In the opening 13 at the top of the funnel 14, an annular brush (not shown) is inserted.

At the far end of the funnel 14 closes - in Fig. 3 and 4 indicated - a cuff 15, which is also connected to a slidable on the struts 26 slide 17 via a flange 16. The carriage 17 has an adjoining the flange 16 and the sleeve 15 through hole.

At the mobile carriage closes above, also resting on the struts 26, a holding part 18 movable. The holding member 18 also has a partially conical through hole, which extends the through hole in the movable carriage 17.

In the upper end of this through hole of the holding part 18, a lower end of a rotatable cage 29, 30, 31 is inserted, which is formed from a lower ring 29 an upper ring 31 and the two rings 29 and 31 connecting struts 30. The lower ring 29 protrudes with a circumferential collar into the upper end of the through hole of the holding part 18 and is sealed relative to the holding part 18. In one embodiment, the holding part 18 can likewise be movable on the struts 26 in order to enable a change of a filter element 19 arranged in the cage 28, 30, 31.

The cage 29, 30, 31 receives the filter element 19. This filter element 19 is impermeable to particles, but allows air or other gases to pass through. The filter element 19 has a substantially circular cross-section, however, the side wall of the filter element 19 is preferably folded several times, so that there is an approximately star-shaped cross-sectional shape of the filter element 19.

Within the filter element 19, a pipe socket 33 is arranged, which is attached at one end to the upper ring 31 and extends into the region of the lower ring 29. However, a small gap remains between the lower end of the pipe socket 33 and the inner diameter of the lower ring 29.

The upper ring 31 is fixedly connected to a sleeve 20, the sleeve 20 is rotatably supported by two ball bearings 34 on a bearing stub 35. The bearing neck 35 is mounted in an opening of a closure plate 27 which is secured to the upper ends of the struts 26. The bearing neck 35 has a multi-paragraph and tapered into a central region Through hole on. The lower end of the bearing neck 35 extends to the upper ring 31 zoom.

The through hole of the bearing neck 35 widens conically at its upper end. In this conical extension, a complementarily shaped cone 22 is used, wherein between the cone 22 and the conical extension of the through bore of the bearing stub 35 an annular gap remains, which is connected to a compressed air connection (not shown) and forms an annular nozzle. The cone 22 has a central through-hole, which continues the through-bore of the bearing neck 35 from its tapered region.

On the top of the end plate 27, an electric motor 25 is fixed, whose shaft passes through a hole in the end plate and can drive a drive ring 33 via a belt 24, which is fixedly connected to the sleeve 20. By means of the electric motor 25, therefore, the sleeve 20 and all the parts fixedly connected thereto, such as the cage 29, 30, 31, the filter element 29, the pipe socket 33 and the spiral brush 32 arranged in the pipe socket, can be driven, the sleeve 20, the cage 29, 30, 31, the filter element 19, the holding part 18, the carriage 17 and the end plate 27, moreover, together form an inner housing, to which reference is also made in the claims.

The so-called inner tube is guided via the inlet opening 11b in the housing bottom 11a of the outer housing 11 into the tip 13 of the funnel 14. Before that is the surface of the inner tube (Bzz. 1, Fig. 5 ) Was heated by means of a heater so far that the surface is plastically deformable.

In the funnel 14, the particles are filled, with which the tube to be produced is then colored. To fill the particles, the carriage 17 can be moved downwards, whereby the particles can be filled into the funnel 14 from above through the passage opening of the carriage 17 and the sleeve 16.

The heated inner tube 1 takes in the funnel 14 with its outer surface on the particles and leads them on its way up with it. The inner tube 1 with the adhering particles is guided through the sleeve 15, through the carriage 17 to the holding part 18. From the holding part 18, the inner tube is guided further upwards through the bearing neck 35 by the rotating spiral brush 32. In particular, in the central tapered region of the bearing stub 35, the inner tube with the adhering particles, from the compressed air emerging from the annular nozzle, is irradiated.

With the adhering particles emerges from the cone via an outlet opening 23 and is fed from there to the deflection roller 12b.

After applying the particles vibrating funnel 14, the surface with the adhering particles undergoes a two-stage mechanical aftertreatment. Thus, on the one hand acted by the rotating spiral brush 32 on the surface with the adhering particles. The particles are thereby aligned relative to the surface of the inner tube. If necessary, too much applied particles are removed. On the other hand, the compressed air exerted on the inner tube with the adhering particles is acted upon in the annular nozzle by the compressed air emerging from the annular nozzle. Loose or loose particles adhering to the surface of the inner tube are blown away by the compressed air and conveyed against the transport direction of the hose down. The compressed air carries the particles down with them.

The particles are accelerated downwardly by the compressed air to be fed to the hopper 14 so that they are available for further processing. So that no excessively high overpressure arises within the device 1, the supplied compressed air must be removed from the interior of the outer housing 11. The purpose of the remaining between the pipe socket 33 and the lower ring 29 gap. The compressed air can be deflected at this gap by about 180 ° upwards, with the entrained particles continue to fly down due to their inertia. The compressed air then comes to the overpressure side of the filter element 19 and is pressed by the filter element 19. Any particles still entrained are held in the filter 19.

A means of the device according to the Fig. 1 to 4 provided with particles inner tube 1 is then provided with an outer layer 3, the so-called outer tube 3. Between this outer tube 3 and the inner tube 1, the particles 2 are arranged in a further, middle layer, as in Fig. 5 is shown. The inner tube 1 may have a fabric insert to increase the compressive strength.

Claims (30)

1. Process for producing a hose, in particular a shower hose, from a plurality of layers (1, 3), comprising the following steps:

   - firstly, particles are applied to an outer surface of an inner hose (1), which forms an inner layer (1) of the shower hose,

   - mechanical action is then exerted on the particles (2) which adhere to the inner hose,

   - an outer layer (3) is then applied,

   characterized
   in that mechanical action is exerted on the particles by brushes (32), rollers, tabs or the like.
2. Process according to Claim 1, characterized in that the surface of the inner hose (1) is heated by a heater before the particles are applied.
3. Process according to Claim 1, characterized in that an adhesive, lacquer or similar is applied to the surface of the inner hose (1) before the particles are applied.
4. Process according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the surface is heated to a temperature which is typical for the material of the inner hose (1).
5. Process according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the particles are applied by drawing the inner hose (1) through a bath containing the particles.
6. Process according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that mechanical action is exerted on the particles by a pressure medium, for example compressed air.
7. Process according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that some of the particles which do not adhere directly to the inner hose (1) are removed by the mechanical action.
8. Process according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the particles (2) are oriented or smoothed by the mechanical action.
9. Process according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that depressions are impressed in the surface of the inner hose by one or more punches after the surface of the inner hose (1) has been heated and before or after the application of the particles.
10. Device (10) for producing a hose, in particular a shower hose, in particular for carrying out a process according to one of Claims 1 to 9,

    - having a container (14) for a bath of particles,

    - wherein the container (14) has an inlet opening (13) for an inner hose and an outlet opening for the inner hose (1) provided with the particles,

    wherein
    the device (10) has means for exerting mechanical action on the particles which adhere to the inner hose (1),
    characterized
    in that the means for exerting mechanical action comprise brushes (32), rollers, tabs and/or the like.
11. Device according to Claim 10, characterized in that the means for exerting mechanical action comprise nozzles for a pressure medium, in particular compressed air.
12. Device according to Claim 11, characterized in that the means for exerting mechanical action are produced in part from textiles, leather, foam material, soft plastic materials, elastomers, bristles or similar.
13. Device according to one of Claims 10 to 12, characterized in that one means for exerting mechanical action is a helical brush (32), which can be rotated about its longitudinal axis by means of a drive.
14. Device according to Claim 13, characterized in that the nozzles are arranged downstream from the rotatable brush (32) in the direction in which the inner hose (1) provided with the particles is transported.
15. Device according to one of Claims 10 to 14, characterized in that the means for exerting mechanical action are arranged in a housing (20, 29, 30, 31, 19, 18, 17).
16. Device according to Claim 15, characterized in that the housing (20, 29, 30, 31, 19, 18, 17) has an inlet opening and an outlet opening for the hose coated with the particles.
17. Device according to Claim 16, characterized in that the inlet opening of the housing (20, 29, 30, 31, 19, 18, 17) is connected at least indirectly to the outlet opening of the container (14).
18. Device according to one of Claims 15 to 17, characterized in that a filter (19) is inserted into a wall of the housing (20, 29, 30, 31, 19, 18, 17).
19. Device according to one of Claims 10 to 18, characterized in that the container (14) is coupled to a vibrator (28).
20. Device according to one of Claims 10 to 19, characterized in that the container (14) has a funnel-shaped design at least in one portion, and a tip of the funnel points counter to the direction in which the hose is transported.
21. Device according to one of Claims 10 to 20, characterized in that the device (10) comprises a heating means for heating up the hose.
22. Hose, in particular shower hose, produced by the process according to one of Claims 1 to 9, wherein particles are arranged between an inner layer (1) and an outer layer (3) of the hose, characterized in that the particles have a platelet-like form, and the platelet-like particles are arranged substantially parallel to the outer surface of the inner layer.
23. Hose, in particular shower hose, e.g. according to Claim 22, having an inner layer and an outer layer, characterized in that depressions are provided in an outer surface of the inner layer.
24. Hose according to Claim 23, characterized in that the depressions are punched formations.
25. Hose according to Claim 23 or 24, characterized in that the depressions have a regular arrangement.
26. Hose according to one of Claims 23 to 25, characterized in that the depressions have a circular, annular, drop-shaped, linear, arrow-shaped, cross-shaped, square or rectangular form and/or are in the form of letters and/or numerals.
27. Hose, in particular shower hose, e.g. according to one of Claims 22 to 26, characterized in that the hose has a non-circular cross section.
28. Hose according to Claim 27, characterized in that the hose has a star-shaped cross section.
29. Hose according to Claim 28, characterized in that the hose has an oval or angular cross section.
30. Hose, in particular shower hose, according to one of Claims 22 to 25, characterized in that the inner and/or outer layer (1, 3) is formed by a hose according to one of Claims 27 to 29.

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